elliehca

[elliehca]

𝑬𝑽𝑨𝑳𝑼𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵

In conclusion, I feel that I have successfully used my research to create a series of Surreal works. In addition, I feel that I have used that research to find my own surreal voice rather than simply taking elements from other artwork.

In regard to the subject of this project, International Women’s Day, I believe that I have followed the theme of it. I have done this through the women I have researched, exclusively drawing women and incorporating feelings that I as a woman experience. 

Of the three I think my favourite might be “Celebration”; although I am fond of “Overwhelmed” as well. I love my composition and how I am framed by the abundant confetti. I am pleased with how I blended the realistic art with the surreal elements.

My least favourite piece would be “Suffocating”, mostly due to the heavy pink overlay and the contradicting elements. I feel that while the overlay contributes to the feeling of suffocation, like a blanket of humidity, it also distracts from the subjects. The contradiction I find, is how the piece is entitled ‘Suffocating’ - despite gaps of space. It could be argued that this allows the viewer to breathe and rest their eyes, but this was not the intent of the piece.

I am happy that I was able to create three finished and detailed pieces for this project, as I often create a variety of work rather than focusing on a small number of products.

I feel that this project has greatly helped me step out of my comfort zone as I want to create more realistic pieces in future.

[elliehca]

▌│█║▌║▌║ OVERWHELMED ║▌║▌║█│▌

My final Surrealist piece for this project, another self portrait.

Inspired by a reflection, seen in a framed painting, of my mum working at the kitchen table; as if she were trapped within the painting itself.

I wanted to end this project with a reference to the project’s name ‘In The Frame’.

In this work I wanted to convey various aspects of being overwhelmed though the connotations of the visual elements.

- The accusatory fingers, representing the presence of judgement and overwhelming 

- The water spilling out of the painting, describing the feeling of being overwhelmed; describing stress and pressure as an overflowing volume of water.

- The bright light facing the painting, representing having a spotlight placed upon yourself

- The blank expression, being too over-simulated to express emotion

- The framed painting, representing the feeling of being trapped

- The flies circling the light, replacing the typical narrative of moths around a light with flies (with are considered dirty) to give connotations of dirtiness, loudness and crowds. The decision was also grounded in the association with dead bodies and flies.

The piece shows a painting of myself sitting at a table (working), water pours out of the painting as fingers point at it. A light is above the painting, surrounded by flies.

The piece was drawn on procreate, and the concept art was drawn in MS Paint.

I am very pleased with the contrasting ambiguity and detail in the piece; such as elements of the painting and the detailed fingers. Some of my favourite elements of the piece are the detail of the flies, the orange painting (how the light interacts with it), how you can only see small aspects of my face and how aggressive the water is.

If I had to change anything about this piece, it would be opening the door in the back. I like having layer in paintings, and adding that new space could have added another element of interest. However, in not having this, the painting feels more claustrophobic and fits with the theme in that sense.

[elliehca]

𝙋𝙍𝙊𝘽𝙇𝙀𝙈 𝙎𝙊𝙇𝙑𝙄𝙉𝙂

The most significant example of problem solving so far has been having to change my 2nd piece.

I had planned to use my mum as a model, using her bedroom as the location, but unfortunately she found herself too busy with work to do so.

As a result, I decided to use myself again, changing the location to the kitchen. It was also at this time that I decided to draw the subjects without faces!

I managed to work around my model’s absence by stepping in to take her place.

[elliehca]

【ＳＵＦＦＯＣＡＴＩＮＧ】

My second Surreal art piece for this project, another self portrait.

This piece is an interpretation of being stuck within your mind; lost in a chain of thought. This is particularly relevant to me as I find myself in such a place frequently where I am unable to manifest any thought. It is being unable to stop thinking about thinking about thinking about thinking - stuck in a loop.

I wanted to show this through this room full of myself, with each copy of me having no face. This was in order to further emphasize the lack of internal conversation and to portray each copy as a blank placeholder - as if each has no purpose but to take up space.

My initial concept, drawn on MS Paint, has more copies and has more space above the piece. There are a few reasons for the changes:

-The original intent was to use my mum as a model, and to take the photos in her bedroom.

-The space I chose instead is smaller.

-I altered the composition when putting the photos together, as I felt that having less space in the final piece would further invoke claustrophobia.

I created the piece by setting my phone up on a bar stool, and taking timed photos of myself in different positions in the space (as well as one without myself). I then went to Procreate and used the Lasso tool to cut myself out of each photo - I also used Procreate to draw/edit the piece. I had each of me on a different layer, allowing me to remove every version after drawing it until I reached the background layer.

I am happy with this piece as I feel that it successfully conveys being stuck in your mind while also keeping the dream-like nature of Surrealism.

If I could change anything about this piece, it would be to add more contrast in shadows between each of myself and to add more of myself at the bottom of the piece

[elliehca]

【ＣＥＬＥＢＲＡＴＩＯＮ】

My first Surreal art piece for this project, a self portrait.

The artwork above is a reflection of the role that society places upon women: Mother. 

The piece shows myself smiling up at the cracked egg above, as confetti falls around me. Blood drips from the egg, showing the fortune ‘Your fortune is in another cookie. As I smile up at the display, ghostly hands reach to strangle my bruised neck.

The piece was drawn digitally on Procreate, and the concept art was draw using MS paint.

I am very happy with the outcome of this piece, as I feel that I elevated it beyond my initial intended outcome. Aspects I am happiest with include: the egg, the crumpled fortune, my self portrait and the final composition. 

If I were to change anything about this piece, it would be the hands. I think that making them more transparent and more realistic would have enhanced the artwork.

[elliehca]

SURREALISM

Surrealism is a 20th century art movement where dream-like works are created to unlock unconscious creative potential through the irrational combination of imagery.

The belief is that the rejection of rational thought and concepts would lead to superior ideas.

Sources: https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-surrealism-definition-art-characteristics.html

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/s/surrealism

[elliehca]

Ǔ̷̪̗̣̉ͅṈ̴̭̑͗͊͐̅C̶̡̲̫̉́̎́Ạ̶͔̯̲̐̂̋̂̚N̴̝͙̗̟͔̓Ṋ̶̲͗Y̷̢̧̯̦̏

I am particularly fascinated by the uncanny valley, in particular how androids fit into it. The uncanny valley demonstrates how humans are unnerved by almost human beings. The uncanny valley looks at how we have an emotional response to human-like appearance/behavior, such as using baby features (big features, small etc) which humans respond to positively... to a point. Graphs investigating this show a dramatic plunge that demonstrates how beings that are almost human appearing/behaving become scary to us. 

 For example, when we look at the aforementioned androids, if they were simply robots or convincingly human there would not be any conflict ... however the fact that they are attempting to replicate humanity makes us uncomfortable. We look at androids and often feel that there is instinctively something wrong, telling us that this is an impostor. 

In surrealism, we see depictions of life and realism set in a dream-like world. The contrast between the realistic art and the disconnect to our reality is certainly unnerving, as we cannot register the environment as actually existing despite the elements that would fit into our world. In addition the people included in surrealist works look out of place, as the environment is fictional or has been deeply edited.

[elliehca]

My fourth artist, Frida Kahlo.

Sources: https://www.fridakahlo.org/

https://www.donga.com/en/article/all/20190822/1824750/1/Frida-Kahlo-s-deer

https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/frida-kahlo-symbolism/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frida-Kahlo

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/frida-kahlo-70745811/

[elliehca]

Initially intended to be my fourth artist, Toyen has been frequently referred to with the incorrect pronouns. I found him under ‘female surrealist painters’, and was enamored by his work. However, after creating the page above, and beginning my research, I soon found that while many historians used feminine pronouns or none at all to refer to Toyen, the artist had used masculine pronouns! 

As this project is to celebrate female artists, I cannot include Toyen. However, I urge you to look through his works and see how brilliant they are.

[elliehca]

My third artist, Dorothea Tanning.

Sources: https://www.wikiart.org/en/dorothea-tanning

https://www.whistles.com/inspiration/arts-culture/5-things-to-know-about-dorothea-tanning.html

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/feb/08/dangerous-appetites-the-weird-wild-world-of-artist-dorothea-tanning

http://www.artnet.com/artists/dorothea-tanning/

[elliehca]

Here is my second artist, Helen Lundeberg.

Sources: https://americanart.si.edu/artist/helen-lundeberg-3018

http://moussemagazine.it/helen-lundeberg-andrew-berardini-2019/

https://www.helenlundeberg.com/

https://www.louissternfinearts.com/helen-lundeberg-bio

[elliehca]

My first artist, Remedios Varo.

Sources: https://www.wikiart.org/en/remedios-varo

http://jungcurrents.com/last-painting-of-remedios-varo

https://www.wikiart.org/en/remedios-varo

https://nmwa.org/art/artists/remedios-varo/